Turntable towboat



- March 1, 1966 w, ERLBACHER 3,237,588

TURNTABLE TOWBOAT Filed June 10, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l l m VENToR:

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ROBERT w. ERLEAcI-IER,

Arrow/vars United States Patent 3,237,588 TURNTABLE TOWBOAT Robert W. Erlbacher, 920 N. Fountain, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Filed June 10, 1964, Ser. No. 374,053 9 Claims. (Cl. 114236) This invention relates to improvements in towboats and in particular is concerned with improvements in a bowboat that may be used with a conventional towboat and a string of barges, or which may be used alone to provide improved maneuverability of the tow.

In the past, long strings of barges have been conventionally moved by a pusher towboat, which is positioned in the usual place at the rear of the string of barges. With the advent of very long strings of barges and increasing river trafiic, where this invention finds its most important use, improved maneuverability is very important. When it is understood that the strings of barges may be several city blocks long, the maneuverability becomes quite important. The front of the tow is particularly difficult to handle and some attempts have included the use of outboard engines positioned with their direction of force at right angles to the axis of the tow so that the tow at the front may be moved to the left or right, i.e., port or starboard for quick turning. These attempts have not provided any great help in adding additional force in the movement of the tow in its primary direction of travel, and have been limited only to quick turning effects. Further, a special type of barge structure having openings with the outboard motor mounted therein, or a supplementary structure, is required.

By means of the instant invention, there has been provided a towboat which, for purpose of description herein, may be termed a bowboat that can be used with a conventional string of barges and a rear end pusher towboat. The bowboat is one that may hook on to the front of the forwardmost barge in the tow in conventional fashion, and thence is provided a turntable on the bowboat by means of which the bowboat may move at angles away from the axis of the tow to a point perpendicularly to the axis of the tow for most pronounced turning. Additionally, in straight runs, the bowboat connected to the front of the tow may be used to provide additional force. Further, the bowboat may be provided with two turntables, one at the front and one at the rear, such that it may be broken apart from the tow and used much as a tugboat in moving one barge from a string of tows to a wharf for what amounts to shufiiing of the barges for pickup and fast delivery. Further, the bowboat may actually be used as a pusher boat for a string of tows and, where desired, two bowboats may be employed, one at the front and one at the rear. Additionally, the bowboat may be placed in the middle of the tow to provide articulated turning of the tow as in moving around sharp bends and the like. The bowboat with the turntable is so constructed that it may be locked in any position with respect to the barge to which it is connected, such that it may be either in line with the axis of the barge, or it may move to varying angles to a perpendicular angle for most rapid turning of the barge or barge tow. Further, where desired, the bowboat used at the front of a string of tows with a conventional pusher boat may be fully instrumented so that it may be remotely operated from the main pusher boat.

The above features are objects of this invention and further objects will appear in the detailed description which follows and will be otherwise apparent to those skilled in the art.

For the purpose of illustration, the-re, is shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood that these drawings Patented Mar. 1, 1966 are for the purpose of illustration only and that the invention is not limited thereto.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of a conventional towboat with barges coupled to the turntable towboat of the invention at the front;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the towboat and barges of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the turntable towboat;

FIGURE 4 is a view in side elevation of the turntable towboat;

FIGURE 5 is a View in front elevation of the turntable towboat;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged plan view of the turntable portion of the turntable towboat;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the cable drum and gearing mechanism shown schematically;

FIGURE 8 is a view in section taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 6 showing the construction of the turntable;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section taken similarly to FIGURE 8 but showing the left side construction of the turntable;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a modified turntable;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged view in section taken on line 1111 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of another modified turntable in which the winch is mounted upon the deck;

FIGURE 13 is a view in side elevation of the turntable arrangement of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a top plan view of another modified turntable employing a gear drive;

FIGURE 15 is a view in side elevation of the turntable arrangement of FIGURE 14; and

FIGURE 16 is a top plan view of another modified turntable arrangement employing a direct gear drive.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 the bowboat is shown generally indicated by the reference numeral 16 connected at the forwardmost barge 17 to a string of tows indicated by the reference numeral 18. A conventional pusher towboat 19 is connected in conventional fashion to a rearmost barge 20. It will be understood that the number of barges in the tow may vary from the four ranks of five barges in each rank shown in FIGURE 2.

The bowboat 16 is best shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5. As there shown, it has, for purposes of reference, a front bumper 21, which is connected to the front barge in the embodiments of FIGURES 1 and 2, and a rear bumper 22. These are for use with a front turntable 24 and a rear table 26, respectively. It will be understood that in some cases only a single turntable need be employed in which case it would be the front turntable 24 associated with the front bumper 21. In such circumstances, the rear bumper 22 and the rear turntable 26 may be eliminated. The bowboat 16, shown in these figures, has a conventional superstructure and pilot house amidships and is provided with a flanking rudder 28 and a conventional steering rudder 30 at the rear on either side of the driving propeller 32. The hull construction is best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, where it is to be seen to have a V-shaped crosssection configuration 34 flaring from the center 36 up to slightly rounded side walls 38 connected to slightly diverging free board sides 40. In profile, the towboat, as shown in FIGURE 4, has a bow that slopes gently upwardly from the amidships section to above the water line as indicated by the reference numeral 41. Likewise, the stern of the towboat slopes upwardly from the amidships section in similar fashion, as indicated by the reference numeral 42. The amidships section of the towboat is indicated by reference numeral 43 and covers roughlyone-third of the length of the bowboat. This construction has been found to be of great advantage when the bowboat is turned at right angles to the tow, in other words, where it lies perpendicular to the direction of travel in instances of maximum turning effect of the front of the tow. This hull structure helps to prevent swamping of the boat while still maintaining its very effective turning ability at the front of the tow.

The bumpers 21 and 22 are of conventional construction and are adapted to be brought up tight against a barge and connected rigidly to the end by the usual cables wrapped around capstans 46 conventionally provided on the barges.

The front turntable 24 is best shown in FIGURES 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9. As there shown, it is comprised of a mounting frame 48 provided with a vertical turntable shaft 50 anchored on the boat. A turntable guide wheel 52 having two cable sheaves or grooves 54 and 56, separated by a divider rim 58, is mounted upon the deck of the boat concentric with the shaft 50. A sheave 59 is mounted upon the deck and first cable 61) connected to a turnbuckle tightened support 61, as shown in full bodied arrows, is wound around this deck sheave, the turntable wheel sheave 54, sheave 62 mounted on the turntable frame, and is connected at its other end to the drum section 63 of drum 64 mounted on the turntable frame 48.

A second cable 65, connected at one end to a turnbuckle, tightened support 66, as shown in dotted arrows, is wound around deck sheave 59, the turntable wheel sheave 56, sheave 67 mounted on the turntable frame, and is connected at the other end to drum section 68 of drum 64. The two cables and are reversely wound upon the drum so that turning of the drum in one direction takes up one cable and plays out the other, which operation is reversed by reversing the drum movement.

A motor 69 having forward and reversing means connected by a gear reducing structure 70 shown schematically is adapted to move the drum in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Accordingly, by proper operation of the motor, the bowboat may be turned 90 to the left or right of the forward direction.

The interrelationship of the turntable frame 48 and the turntable wheel 52 is best shown in the detailed drawing of FIGURES 6, 8 and 9. As there shown, the turntable frame is provided with a guide track generally indicated by the reference numeral 813. This guide track overlies the turntable wheel guide element 82, which is the form of a track fitting inside the member 86. The turntable guide element takes the shape of a U-shaped track having brass liners 84 and 86 overlying the turntable wheel to reduce friction and prevent galling. The lowermost liner 86 is spaced a slight distance away from the wheel guide member 82 to provide for some degree of movement between the turntable frame and turntable wheel to compensate for strains presented by relative movement between the frontmost barge 12 and the bowboat. The guide member 811! is constructed by support members 88, 90 and 92 connected together by a bolt 94.

FIGURES l0 and 11 show a modified form of a turntable employing a winch mounted upon the turntable itself. The turntable is generally indicated by the reference numeral 190 and rests upon a turntable wheel base 102 in somewhat similar fashion to that previously described. A winch 104 is mounted upon the turntable and connected to drum 196. Two separate cables 108 and 110 are employed and wound around the winch at one in separate flights and connected at the other ends to a support 112. The cable 108 is passed around sheave 114 and connected to the drum 106 at section 116. In like fashion, the cable 110 is connected by turnbuckle tightening means to the support 112 and passed around sheave 118 and connected to the drum at section 120.

In FIGURES l2 and 13 a turntable 122 is shown employing a single cable 124. This turntable is likewise mounted upon the turntable wheel base 126 in the form of a circular track and employs only a single cable, which is connected at one end by a turnbuckle to a support 130 mounted upon the turntable, while the other end is connected by the turnbuckle tightening means to a support 132. The cable is passed around the turntable wheel base over drum 134, which is connected to a powering winch 136. Support sheaves 138 and 1449 are mounted upon the deck to guide the cable.

FIGURES 14 and 15 show a gearing arrangement for operating the turntable. As shown in FIGURE 15, the turntable 142 is connected directly to shaft 144 to which is also connected a gear 146. The gear meshes with another gear 148 connected to gear box 150 through a typical air clutch 151, slip clutch, or other means, to provide shock protection. By operation of the motor 152 through the gear box, the turning of the shaft 144 and the turntable is effected.

A further modification of the turntable operated by gearing is shown in FIGURE 16 where the turntable 154 is provided with notched gear elements 156 on the semicircular periphery. A gear box 158 connected to a motor (not shown) provides power to gear 160 which meshes with the gear teeth 156 to effect the turning of the turntable.

Operation The bowboat of this invention may be very simply employed with an existing tow as shown in FIGURE 1. In such fashion the front bumper 21 is firmly lashed to the capstan 46 of the barge 17 in conventional fashion. This firmly connects the turntable frame to the front of the tow. For normal operation forwardly, the bowboat is turned to the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 2 so that it is directly in line with the axis of the tow, and this is effected by operating the motor 68 to move the turntable frame with respect to the turntable wheel to line up the bowboat with the tow. The operation of the flanking rudder and steering rudder will also help to effect this positioning. In this position the bowboat may be used to help propel the tow. The efficiency of the propelling screw in the lined up position shown is greatly improved, since the wash from the propeller is spaced at the leading end of the bowboat quite some way from the tow and does not interfere with it.

When it is desired to move the front of the tow rapidly to the left or the right, the motor 68 is again operated to cause the bowboat to move to the position shown in FIG- URE Z. Where more rapid turning is effected, it may be moved beyond that position to a position at right angles to the axis of the tow. In effecting this movement, the motor 68 is operated in conjunction with the flanking and steering rudders also to effect rapid line up to the desired position.

Thus, when the bowboat is connected in the fashion shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, full maneuverability of the tow is realized.

The bowboat may be further employed with both turntables by connecting, where desired, barges both in the front and the rear. In this fashion, the bowboat serves as an articulated member so that the barges to the front and the rear may have different axial positions inclined at angles to the axis of the bowboat. This positioning may be employed in long strings of tows with the bowboat positioned between barges, such as in maneuvering tight curves in a river or the like.

Further, the bowboat may be used to pick up and deliver individual barges. Thus, the bowboat may be used for a single barge to take it back and forth from one tow to another. In such instances the barges being delivered may be hooked to the front tow 24 and the bowboat may be used as a conventional pusher towboat.

In the operation of the bowboat in the conventional tow, as shown in FIGURE 2, it may be operated by a manned pilot who is positioned in the pilot house of the bowboat. Alternatively, proper instrumentation may be provided so that the steering and flanking rudders and the motor 68 may be operated from the pilot house of the pusher boat.

Accordingly, by means of this invention there has been provided a bowboat which has a wide adaptability of use on tows for barges. It may be used to provide very fast turning of the front of the tow in conjunction with a forward force component so that the bowboat actually helps to propel the entire tow in the desired direction. The bowboat may be used to pull the entire tow in certain instances where the pusher boat may be temporarily disabled. Thus, the bowboat serves not only to steer but also to help move the tow in the desired direction up or down a river. It will be understood that although reference has been made to tows along a river where primary use is contemplated, because of the high degree of maneuverability required, the bowboat may also be used on coastal traffic and is not limited in its employment.

Various changes and modfications may be made in this invention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the various turntable arrangements shown as modifications may be readily employed in the bowboat. Such modifications may be used as desired depending upon structural circumstances and the like. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A towboat having means to attach to a barge at a fixed position, said means comprising a rotary turntable mounted upon said towboat having means connecting it to said barge with the turntable positioned adjacent an end of the barge, and means for turning said towboat about the turntable to obtain increased steering effect upon the barge by shifting the angular relationship of the barge and the towboat.

2. A towboat provided with a turntable means, means for attaching said turntable means to a barge, means on said towboat supporting said turntable means adjacent an end of the barge on the towboat in pivotable relation therewith, and means for pivoting said towboat about the turntable means to obtain increased steering effect upon the barge by shifting the angular relationship of the barge and the towboat.

3. A towboat provided with a turntable means, means for attaching said turntable means to a barge, means on said towboat supporting said turntable means adjacent an end of the barge on the towboat in pivotable relation therewith and means for pivoting said towboat about the turntable means to obtain increased steering effect upon the barge by shifting the angular relationship of the barge and the towboat, and said towboat being further provided with propeller means at an end of the boat opposed to said means for attaching the towboat to a barge.

4. A towboat provided with a turntable means, means for attaching said turntable means to a barge, means on said towboat supporting said turntable means on the towboat in pivotable relation therewith, and means for pivoting said towboat about the turntable means to obtain increased steering effect upon the barge by shifting the angular relationship of the barge and the towboat, said last named means comprising a cable drum mounted on said turntable means and two cables connected at their ends to said drum and reversely wound thereon, said cables having their other ends connected to the towboat, and means for turning said drum in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions to effect the turning of the towboat with respect to said turntable means.

5. A towboat having means to attach to a barge at a fixed position, said means comprising a turntable mounted upon said towboat having means connecting it to said barge and means for turning said towboat about the turntable to obtain increased steering effect upon the barge by shifting the angular relationship of the barge and the towboat, said towboat having a hull having a cross-section of a V-shaped configuration to minimize swamping forces when the towboat is moved generally perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis.

6. A towboat having means to attach to a barge at a fixed position, said means comprising a turntable mounted upon said towboat having means connecting it to said barge and means for turning said towboat about the turntable to obtain increased steering effect upon the barge by shifting the angular relationship of the barge and the towboat, said towboat having a hull having a cross-section of a V-shaped configuration, and bow and rear sections that slope generally upwardly from the amidships section and said amidships section covering about one-third the length of the boat to minimize swamping forces when the towboat is moved. generally perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis.

7. A towboat having means to attach to a barge at a fixed position, said means comprising a turntable mounted upon said towboat having means connecting it to said barge and means for turning said towboat about the turntable to obtain increased steering effect upon the barge by shifting the angular relationship of the barge and the towboat, said towboat having a hull having a cross-section of a V-shaped configuration at the bottom walls, said bottom walls being rounded at the water line and connecting said slightly diverging free board side walls, and bow and rear sections that slope generally upwardly from the amidships section and said amidships section covering about one-third the length of the boat to minimize swamping forces when the towboat is moved generally perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis.

8. A towboat string comprising a pusher towboat, at least one barge connected to the front of the pusher towboat and a bow towboat connected to the front of the lead barge, said bow towboat having means to attach to a barge at a fixed position, said means comprising a turntable mounted upon said towboat having means connecting it to said barge, and means for turning said towboat about the turntable to obtain increased steering effect upon the barge by shifting the angular relationship of the barge and the towboat.

9. A towboat string comprising a pusher towboat, at least one barge connected to the front of the pusher towboat and a bow towboat connected to the front of the lead barge, said bow towboat having means to attach to a barge at a fixed position, said means comprising a turntable mounted upon said towboat having means connecting it to said barge, and means for turning said towboat about the turntable to obtain increased steering effect upon the barge by shifting the angular relationship of the barge and the towboat, said towboat having a hull having a cross-section of a V-shaped configuration to minimize swamping forces when the towboat is moved generally perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 82,614 9/1868 Frick 114-236 2,342,707 2/ 1944 Troyer 114-56 2,353,020 7/1944 Dyer 114-56 X 2,870,734 1/1959 Armstrong et al. 114-236 2,984,202 5/1961 Lunde 114-235 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TOWBOAT HAVING MEANS TO ATTACH TO A BARGE AT A FIXED POSITION, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A ROTARY TURNTABLE MOUNTED UPON SAID TOWBOAT HAVING MEANS CONNECTING IT TO SAID BARGE WITH THE TURNTABLE POSITIONED ADJACENT AN END OF THE BARGE, AND MEANS FOR TURNING SAID TOWBOAT ABOUT THE TURNTABLE TO OBTAIN INCREASED STEERING EFFECT UPON THE BARGE BY SHIFTING THE ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP OF THE BARGE AND THE TOWBOAT. 